Summer is time for relaxation. Lazy afternoons basking in the sun, spontaneous voyages to the beach, pina coladas at arm’s reach. Summer means many wonderful and adventurous things. One thing the spontaneity of summer shouldn’t include? Navigating the tangled jungle of your closet. Here are a few tips for making sure your closet jives with the serenity of the season.

1. Start with a clean slate.
It’s July now. If there are still remnants of wool, fur, or fleece in the main parts of your closet, something is wrong. Take the time to divide and prioritize your closet space, making sure that your cold-weather adornments are neatly packed away in the less accessible parts of your closet or in another storage place in your living space. Same goes for your trusty boots and Uggs. Let them have a break and give your gladiator sandals and Rainbows a bit of air and wiggle room.

2. Banish the hoarder in you.
You know that voice in the back of your head that whispers: “Well, give it some time, maybe you’ll wear it soon…” “I mean, you do plan to diet next week…” “But maybe it’ll come back in style…” This voice may masquerade as a friend, but alas, she is not. In order to add a healthy dose of pragmatism to your wardrobe, mark how often you wear each article of clothing by the hanger positioning. Start with all hangers facing the same way, then turn the hanger around each time you wear something. When summer draws to a close, the articles that are still hung in the original position should probably be tossed. It may hurt at first, but it’ll get easier. I promise.

3. Be ready to roll.
Summer usually brings about certain activities or excursions. Days at the beach, trips to the lake, or timely weekend trips are all things that might manifest themselves during the dog days of mid-year. What will prevent your closet from meandering into mayhem as you frantically try to pack or leave for a day out is to have a small part of your closet devoted to the summer activity of your choosing. For instance, if you love to go to the beach, have your beach tote ready, stocked with bathing suit, cover up, sunscreen, hat, and your other must-have summer wears. Not only will this prevent the tornado of time shortage and stress from waging war on your closet, but it will also ensure that you don’t forget a crucial item.

4. Have it in the bag.
Summer calls for the transition from structured, heavy bags to lightweight totes and slouchy hobo cross-shoulders. Keep your fall and winter purses intact by stuffing them with bubble wrap or tissue to keep their shape, then stash them with the rest of your winter goods. Ideally, it’s best to have a couple hooks devoted to your bags so that you can efficiently and easily switch from day to day or make the seamless transition from day casual to nighttime chic. If you stick with this organizational tactic, you’ll never again be throwing the contents of your closet or room every which way in search of that one bag that perfectly complements your seasonal duds.

5. Be Future-focused.
Divide your closet into 3 sections: spring-to-summer choices, solely summer apparel, and summer-to-fall transitions. That way, when the warm breeze starts carrying a chill, you only have to take out the preceding section of your closet, then moving those seasonal clothes into storage and trading out your winter wear that has been hibernating the past few months. The summer-to-fall part of your closet will be ready as the appetizer to the main course of hearty sweaters and coats that accompany the chill of the winter months. Planning for seasons—and the transitional times in between—will ensure that you always keep one step ahead of the weather.

Just five simple rules. Abide by them, and you will not only find yourself more organized, but also more free to enjoy the relaxing respite of the season. After all, summer should de-clutter your mind and de-stress your lifestyle…why not do the same for your closet?

Hi Everyone! I am on vacation from organizing this week, so luckily, closet designer to the stars, Lisa Adams of LA Closet Boutique, is here to share some closet inspiration. Personally, I have a bit of an obsession with celebrity closets and I am always clipping images of them from magazines and posting them to my Tumblr blog, so I am so excited to welcome Lisa to Hatch! Take it away Lisa…

In the last few years, well designed, luxurious closets have become status symbols. Flip through the pages of home décor or entertainment magazines, and you can easily find features on plush, tricked-out celebrity closets. If a custom closet is beyond your means, there are some easy and low cost ways of adding the same chic and luxurious touches to your closet. Here are some of my recommendations:

ACCENTS: Pick a few plush looking accents from a bargain store or even the flea market or Salvation Army. From pillows and rugs to paintings and lamps, your eye will be drawn to that unique, maybe even antique piece.

PAINT: Add a bright color to one wall of your closet to add spunk and high energy, or use cool shades like grays, blues and purples to promote relaxation.

HANDLES & KNOBS: Find interesting handles and knobs to bring a touch of style and luxury to your closet. There are fabulous leather and stainless steel options. Yard sales, flea markets, and even hardware stores can be treasure troves!

MIRROR: Add a full-length mirror to the dead space. It’ll make the room feel bigger and be functional.

SEATING: If you have the room, add a sitting area. The seat could be used for lounging or for putting on your shoes. A sitting area makes the closet a true living space.

LIGHTING: Lighting is very important when choosing your outfit and getting dressed. Pay attention to the lighting to make sure it is natural and not overpowering. Also, use natural lighting whenever possible, such as windows and skylights. It flatters more and saves on cost.

DRAWER LINERS: Lining your drawers either with cedar, lavender or even pretty paper is a beautiful, cheap and a great motivator for keeping things neat and orderly.

HANGERS: Don’t skimp on the hangers. Make them uniform for each type of clothing. It’s a good investment in the long run because your clothes retain their shape, and don’t snag or become ruined.

BOOT TREES: Invest in boot trees or boot shapers for maintaining their shape and to prevent cracking and creasing. Your boots can then be displayed like a shoe store, and will have a longer lifespan.

STACKABLE SHOE RACKS: Get your shoes off of the floor and organize them with chrome stackable racks. With a simple expandable two-tiered design, you can store more shoes in a limited space.

SLIDING SHELF DIVIDERS: Bookends for your closet, these sliding shelf dividers come in various heights and depths and are perfect to keep rows of sweaters stacked like in a boutique.

DOUBLE HANGING RODS: Without having to overhaul your tight closet, these double rods add function to wasted space by providing two layers of hanging space at once.

If this list is too long for you, simply hire Lisa, or visit LAClosetDesign.com and scoop everything up in the one place!

Last week it was nice to sit back and read guest posts from people who are much more organized than I am. I decided to share some of the closets I covet on my other more frivolous blog. Here are a few of my favorite picks:

from Living Etc.

Karen Darling’s closet from ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money:

Nanette Lepore’s Closet:

Tamara Mellon (founder of Jimmy Choo)’s Closet:

Jenna Lyons (of J. Crew) dedicated an entire room of her Brooklyn Brownstone to her closet:

The Ultimate Preppy Handbook Closet. Joan Crawford would not have any problems with these hangers:

Credits:

Top photo from Living etc. “Picture Research” is by Sarina Lui. If you know the photographer, please comment so I can add it to the post!

Second photo taken of ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money on my TV.

Nanette Lepore’s Closet photo by William Waldron for Elle Decor as seen on PointClickHome